UFC 210 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

Daniel CormierJoshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

After an extended March Madness-related hiatus, the UFC is back in full force Saturday with UFC 210, going down in Buffalo, New York.

The narrative on Daniel Cormier has become clear over the course of the week. This card does not carry the buzz that others carry. Cormier, who defends his light-heavyweight title against first-round terror Anthony Johnson in the evening's main event, bears some responsibility for this, but is chronically under-appreciated by the mainstream MMA- and sports-going publics. 

Perhaps if the former Olympic wrestler can defeat the knockout artist Johnson for the second time—Cormier choked him out in 2015 to take the belt vacated by a wayward Jon Jones—that would add enough mass to create a tipping point.

We shall see Saturday. We shall also see about the co-main event, which pits middleweight contenders Chris Weidman and Gegard Mousasi against each other. And those are only two of the five fights scheduled for the pay-per-view card.

We can't let you watch these fights with no information or perspective. So we're giving you a breakdown and a prediction for each of these main-card contests. It's our tried and true staff predictions team. Steven Rondina. Craig Amos. Nathan McCarter. And myself, Scott Harris. Let's get it on. 

Charles OliveiraReinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Craig Amos

Charles Oliveira has been a UFC fighter for awhile now, and he's achieved a consistent level of success. He might not be champion level, but he's certainly a talented fighter, capable of sending back anyone not well above average. So to me, this pick comes down to how much you believe in Will Brooks, and I believe he has more to give than what he showed last time out.

Brooks, unanimous decision 

Steven Rondina

Don't let that last fight fool you. Will Brooks is an elite-level lightweight and he'll be able to show that off here against an opponent that actually cuts weight in a fight where he doesn't suffer a freak injury. Charles Oliveira (not to be confused with Alex "The Cheatin' Cowboy" Oliveira) is good, but his game and his lack of size fits right into Brooks' game, which will let the former Bellator champ control the fight en route to the score cards.

Brooks, unanimous decision

Nathan McCarter

I truly believe Brooks is an elite lightweight, and this is a great matchup for him to look like one. Oliveira is a fantastic ground tactician, but he is someone Brooks can control both standing and from top. I don't foresee a finish, but it should be a three-round dominant performance.

Brooks, unanimous decision

Scott Harris

Sound the upset alarms. Oliveira has to get him early and get him early he will. Oliveira will come forward and catch Brooks with a flash high kick. Before Brooks can gain control on the ground, Oliveira takes advantage of the scramble and throws up a triangle choke. There's your ball game.

Oliveira, submission, Rd. 1

Patrick CoteBob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Amos

Both men are in decline, but while Patrick Cote is nearly four years older, his fall has been less precipitous than Thiago Alves'. Maybe that's different now after he was knockout for the first time (excusing a TKO loss that resulted from a leg injury), but if Cote has retained his ability to shake off damage he can eke out the victory in what looks like a competitive battle on paper.

Cote, unanimous decision

Rondina

Alves is back at the weight class where he belongs but he gets to return against one of the division's bigger, smarter guys in Cote. That's not a good thing for him, and it will likely end with the Canadian taking a fairly convincing decision win.

Cote, unanimous decision

McCarter

I like the matchup as far as two fighters well past their prime not getting a beating at the hands of a young buck. So, it should be fun. It's a fight of who has more left in the tank.

I'll take Alves. He can chop away at Cote's legs with kicks taking away his power. That'll allow him to pick up the second and third rounds for a decision nod.

Alves, unanimous decision

Harris

Cote is the more well-rounded fighter here. He's proven more than capable of weathering heavy shots, like the one Alves will throw at him, and returning fire. Grappling may ultimately make the difference, provided Cote can get Alves to the mat.

Cote, unanimous decision

Cynthia CalvilloJoe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Amos

I was too impressed with Cynthia Calvillo in her UFC debut to not pick her here. Pearl Gonzalez looks to possess a fair amount of ability, but like I said...Calvillo was nothing short of phenomenal the only time she's stepped into the Octagon.

Calvillo, submission, Rd. 2

Rondina

I'm not going to lie and say that I've been following the careers of these two women. But what I do know is UFC booking and this matchup and its placement on the UFC 210 card screams that the UFC feels bullish on Calvillo, and want to build her up against soft competition before giving her a larger push.

Calvillo, unanimous decision

McCarter

How impressive was Calvillo in her debut? Very. Very impressive. That's the answer you're looking for here. After taking out Amanda Bobby Cooper this matchup feels like a showcase fight for someone they see has a bright future. And that's smart. Calvillo puts Gonzalez on her back and finishes again in the first round.

Calvillo, submission, Rd. 1

Harris

Gonzalez made a name for herself in her native Chicago and on the regional scene. She gets a huge step up in competition and will meet it head on in what could be a fun slugfest with an even brighter talent in Calvillo. For a while. Eventually, though, Calvillo will get her to the ground and impose her will, if not a stoppage.

Calvillo, unanimous decision

Chris Weidman (top) at UFC 210 open workouts.Kevin Hoffman/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Amos

A lot of people are down on Chris Weidman, but I'm not convinced he's anything but an elite middleweight. Sure, he's lost two straight, but both times against opponents firmly ensconced in that same elite tier. Gegard Mousasi will make it competitive, but Weidman will get the decision.

Weidman, unanimous decision

Rondina

Weidman is coming off back-to-back losses but that's not necessarily because of any physical or psychological decline. I'm working under the assumption that this is still the dude that steamrolled all of Brazil's heroes. And you know what? That dude is capable of beating Mousasi. 

Weidman, unanimous decision

McCarter

There is plenty of reason to be cautious in picking Weidman. Especially against Mousasi. I will take the former champion, but I'm feeling uneasy about it. In the end, I just feel that Weidman's wrestling and length will make the difference. Sometimes folks forget how big he actually is and against Mousasi that'll allow him to win in tight spaces. No finish and it'll be competitive, but Weidman gets the W.

Weidman, unanimous decision

Harris

It's a clean sweep. As much as we all love Mousasi, this is where the wave begins to roll back to the sea. Weidman's pressure will wear down Mousasi, as well his takedowns and ground striking. Mousasi's game is probably more complete, but what Weidman does well in his narrower wheelhouse supersedes that. 

Weidman, unanimous decision

Anthony JohnsonJeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Amos

Last time it went to Daniel Cormier, but it easily could have gone the other way. This time Anthony Johnson completes the knockout when he gets Cormier hurt, and becomes the new light heavyweight champion.

Johnson, TKO, Rd. 2

Rondina

I'm expecting this fight to be very similar to their first. Rumble will look for the early knockout, but will ultimately get taken down, worked over, and either get finished late or get the thumbs down from the judges.

Cormier, unanimous decision

McCarter

Cormier is the better fighter. Period. But this is MMA and the more complete fighter doesn't always win. Specialists have equal chances because of what they excel at, and this is a case of Johnson being a KO specialist with unnatural power.

I've had a gut feeling since this fight was proposed that Johnson finds a home for his mittens on Cormier's chin. Cormier ate one in their first meeting, but in the second he'll eat canvas. The emphatic finish will give the UFC the marquee title fight for Jon Jones that they covet.

Johnson, KO, Rd. 1

Harris

Can Johnson win this fight? You are daggone right he can. Is he going to? No. There's nothing Cormier can, will, should or would do differently in this fight than the first one, where he survived an early scare but prevailed with takedowns and control grappling. This is still a wildly entertaining matchup, but we've literally seen it before.

Cormier, unanimous decision